WRECK OF THE SHOONER DAGMAR, AT WAIKAVA.

Otago Witness, Issue 823, 6 September 1867, Page 18

WRECK OF THE SHOONER DAGMAR, AT WAIKAVA.

(From the Daily Times, Sept. 3.) Information of the wreck of the new Schooner Dagmar, was yesterday conveyed by telegraph to Mr Keith Ramsay, and in the afternoon, Captain Neil Smith, who was in command of the schooner, arrived in town from Waikava, where the disaster occurred. The Dagmar was a bran-new schooner, and was only on her maiden trip when the accident happened, which ha 3 resulted in her complete loss. She was built at Pelichet Bay, and while alongside Stuart street Jetty, after she was launched, she was fitted out in a very perfect manner, both as regards sails and gear. The following particulars of the accident have been kindly furnished to us by Captain Smith :—: — The Dagmar left Waikava Wharf on Monday, 26th August ; made as far as Dryfoot Bay, just inside Waikava Heads, the wind blowing about W.N.W. Lay there tall Wednesday morning, when the wind was from the N.E., a good sailing breeze. Lifted anchor and made sail, but, when in the Narrows, the wind died away. The master waa obliged to let go the anchor. The tide was at the last of the ebb, and while the vessel was slewing to her anchor, the sea ■truck her on the bow, and hove her etem on to the rocks. The first sea carried away the rudder and stern post, and iiien the vessel got broadside on. The kedge anchor was immediately run out, and the hawser taken to the windlass, but the hawser parted. A second anchor was then run out, and she was got off ; but on heaving up she got broadside on a second, time. The same anchor was run out again, and again 6he was got off; but she was found to be sinking fast. She was then hauled in as far as possible on the beach, where she now lies sunk. Capt. M'Callum, master of the Cora, Oapt. Deuchras, master of the Aparima, and Mr Robert Campbell, ship carpenter, at the master of the Dagmar's request, held a survey on the vessel, and condemned her as a total •wreck. The wreck and cargo were sold on behalf of whom it may concern, for L 36, to a Mr Duncan. Smith. A Caxiforjttan paper of July 10, has the following notice of the arrival of immigrants in that State from Australia and China :—: — ■** Within the past few weeks we have been favored, with a decided increase in the flow of immigration to our shores, several hundreds having reached us by sail from Australia, as well as from China. The former is quite a new feature in the supply, not "having before for years received a full ship's oargo of Britishers from any quarter. This would indicate, perhaps, the first fruits of the fleet of immigration that is to follow the late demonstration of our people in publicly manifesting a desire for an increase of population suited to the agricultural and mining wants of the State, with the ultimate hope of their becoming American citizens, in contradistinction to the hordes of Chinese, which, to some, are objectionable, because ineligible as citizens. We do not so consider them, but fully appreciate their worth as laborers opon our railroads, and as reclaimers of the soiL Thousands, and tens of thousands of virgin acreß are by these heathen to be reclaimed and made fruitful rice and cotton fields. Besides, these people have proved themselves valuable aids to many agriculturists, particularly to gardeners, fruit growers, &c, not to say invaluable as helps in our woollen and cotton mills, and without whose assistance in the past we should never have been able to have attained the commanding position now occupied by manufactures on this coast. Before dismissing this subject, we remark in passing that many thousand Chinese are now engaged on the Central Pacific Railroad, yet the comparative scarcity of laborers is still so great commensurate with the anxiety to speed the railway to an ! ■early completion, that 5000 freedmen have been telegraphed for to come over and help en the work. To many of our people, tins move upon the part of the railroad contractors is quite as objectionable as the presence of Chinese, but it is hard to please all."